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In This Issue
Calendar
Rabbi's Message
POWER Update
Rabbi's Fall Education Series
New Reconstructionist President cones to LHI
Interfaith Thanksgiving Community Gathering
Sukkot
November Member Yahrzeit
Looking Ahead
RRC Day of Learning Dec. 7
Please click here for full details.

The Jews of Shanghai
Bobbi Cohen will be presenting her talk on this fascinating piece of Jewish history. Please look for more information on the date and location.
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Leyv Ha-Ir Listserv

To Post a Message - just send an email to leyvhair@npogroups.org. Attachments are accepted.

 

Leyv Ha-Ir Event Postings - will be sent by designated people using the information on our

 

Other Postings - You can post information about other events or information of interest by sending an email to 

leyvhair@npogroups.org.  

  

Contact Beverly or Bobbi if there are questions about the listserv.

Chesed Reminder
A reminder that we have a Chesed (acts of loving kindness) committee who will do their best to offer assistance to LHI members in need. If you find yourself in that situation please call and we'll see how we can be helpful.

Contacts:
Joan Goldberg 215-561-5193
Pat Wisch 215-563-1894
Margie Wiener 215-563-8998
Marking Lifecycle Events

Please remember Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City when you have any occasion to send a greeting card to someone. 

 

While we are happy to receive contributions in any amount, for a minimum $10 contribution we will gladly send one of Marci Fleet's, z"l, lovely art cards created for this purpose to the recipient of your choice.

 

Sue Frank will send the card and compose a note that expresses your thoughts. She can also customize a card based on your suggestion.

 

Please use the 
contribution form on our website, which contains the mailing address for your contribution, PO Box 15836, Philadelphia PA 19103. You can also
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Be sure to join and visit Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City's Facebook group

 

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Contact Leyv Ha-Ir
 
Voice Mail:
215-629-1995

NOVEMBER 2014
Dear Friend of Leyv Ha-Ir ~ Heart of the City,   

 

On October 26 both of us had the opportunity to witness history made by the Reconstructionist movement as Rabbi Deborah Waxman was inaugurated as the first female head of any Jewish movement. It was a lovely ceremony attended by several hundred people from across the country. Rabbi Deborah spoke beautifully and meaningfully about our movement and what it has to offer us, both individually and communally.

You will have the opportunity to meet, hear from and speak with Rabbi Deborah, the new president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, when she joins us for our Kabbalat Shabbat service on November 21. We are honored to have her with us and urge you to attend this special service. That same service is also our annual Interfaith Family Shabbat service. Please pass along this invitation to  anyone who is part of an Interfaith Family.  Of course everyone is welcome -- members, friends, family and those interested in our movement.

Once again we want to thank everyone who volunteered in any way during our High Holiday services.  We can't make it happen without all of you!

Shalom,
Bobbi and Roby

Your Co-First Vice Presidents

LHI CALENDAR NOVEMBER 2014 AND BEYOND

Saturday, November 1, 10:00 AM, Shabbat Morning Service

Join our lay-led minyan for a Shabbat morning service, Torah discussion and pot-luck veggie/dairy lunch.  

Location: Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq., Collier Room, 2nd floor front

Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or info@leyvhair.org for questions.  

 

Sunday, November 2, 11:00 AM, Walking All the Way Through Life Together: End of Life in a Sacred Community

This will be the first in a 3-part series by Rabbi Julie and others. Details below.

Location (for this session only): Penn Center House Leisure Lounge, 2nd floor, 1900 JFK Blvd.  

Cost: $10/members, $15/guests

Brunch is included. All are welcome.   

Please register at info@leyvhair.org or 215-629-1995.  

 

Sunday, November 9, 10:45 AM, Singing Circle
Come be a part of it.  You don't need ability, just a love of music. Jessi Roemer will lead us in song. This is part of our new monthly series. All are invited; bring your friends. 
Cost: $5 (to cover the cost of room rental)
Location: Penn Center House Leisure Lounge, 1900 JFK Blvd., 2nd floor
Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or info@leyvhair.org for questions. 
 

Monday, November 10, 7:00 PM, Council Meeting

All members are invited to our monthly Council meeting.
Location: Pat Wisch's home in Center City. 

Contact Pat at patwisch@comcast.net or 215-563-1894 for exact location.  

 

Friday, November 14, 6:30 PM, Home Shabbat Service and Dinner

Join us at Susan Thompson's Fairmount home for a lay-led Friday night service followed by a pot-luck veggie/dairy dinner.
Please contact Susan at 215-923-4040  for the exact address, to RSVP and let her know what you are bringing.  

 

Sunday, November 16, 11:00 AM, Walking All the Way Through Life Together: End of Life in a Sacred Community

This will be the second in a 3-part series by Rabbi Julie and others. Details below.

Location (for 2nd and 3rd sessions only): William Penn House Community Room, 1919 Chestnut St.  

Cost: $10/members, $15/guests

Brunch is included. All are welcome.   

Please register at info@leyvhair.org or 215-629-1995.

 

Friday, November 21, 7:30 PM, Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Rabbi Julie and Jessi will lead us in a special Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, will speak with us. This is also our annual Interfaith Family Shabbat service.  

Oneg Shabbat will follow the service. All are welcome. 

Location: Ethical Society, first floor  

 

Sunday, November 23, 11:00 AM, Walking All the Way Through Life Together: End of Life in a Sacred Community

This will be the third in a 3-part series by Rabbi Julie and others. Details below.

Location (for 2nd and 3rd sessions only): William Penn House Community Room, 1919 Chestnut St.   

Cost: $10/members, $15/guests

Brunch is included. All are welcome.   

Please register at info@leyvhair.org or 215-629-1995.

 
Tuesday, November 25, 7:00 PM, Annual Center City West Interfaith Thanksgiving Community Gathering 

We are once again participating in this community event.  Please join us. 

Location: First Presbyterian Church, 21st & Walnut Streets 


Saturday, December 6, 10:00 AM, Shabbat Morning Service

Join our lay-led minyan for a Shabbat morning service, Torah discussion and pot-luck veggie/dairy lunch.  

Location: Ethical Society Building, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq., Collier Room, 2nd floor front

Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or info@leyvhair.org for questions.

 

Sunday, December 7, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Community Day of Learning

RRC is holding a day of learning around the themes of "Reconstructionism 101" and Tikkun Olam.

Space is limited and registration required. Please see all details here. 


Monday, December 8, 7:00 PM, Council Meeting

All members are invited to our monthly Council meeting.
Location: to be advised. 

Contact LHI at 215-629-1995 or info@leyvhair.org for exact location.    

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Take a complete look at Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir upcoming activities. 

RABBI'S MESSAGE
November 2014

Dear Chevre,    

This is the month with no Jewish holidays, the month of Cheshvan. After so many fall holy days we finally have the time to consolidate and integrate the intentions, teachings and insights of the past months. Our Ritual Committee is taking on an intensive reflection on our High Holy Day offerings. One of the issues we are considering is the balance of traditional and innovative melodies in our service.

Many people have strong feelings about hearing the melodies they heard as children in their home synagogues. While different Jewish movements had different melodies (e.g. Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Renewal and Reconstructionist synagogues frequently do not use the same melodies and Sefardic melodies are yet another variation), the feelings of "home" and "known" resonate with deep emotional poignancy.
    
At the same time, as the radio station WRTI keeps telling us, "all music was once new," and we are continuing to build the foundation for the future of Judaism by offering contemporary melodies in our service. The ancient art of sacred chant is also being revived. In sacred chant we take a phrase from a holy text and explore it through repetition, breath and melody. The concept in chant is to deepen the spiritual experience rather than to race through a lot of words.

At Leyv Ha-Ir~Heart of the City we truly value both tradition and innovation. We're open to hearing about your experience of the blend of these two elements. Is there a particular melody you miss? Are there new melodies that you love and hope will become our "tradition?" We know we're doing something right because dozens of people each year comment on the beauty and power of the services and people keep coming back! Please feel free to join this dialogue by sending me a note or talking with me before or after a service.

Looking forward to a great year of community building and fellowship.

All the best,

Rabbi Julie
POWER UPDATE
Power Logo
Join Spring Garden Parents in Getting Out the Vote

 

The parents of Spring Garden Elementary School found out on October 24 that their school will now be short an additional 2 teachers this year and the Spanish classes (which they have been requesting for the past 2 years) are going to be cancelled because of budget shortage and

THEY ARE TIRED OF IT!!

THEY ARE TIRED of the political games that these legislators are playing with their children's education!
THEY ARE TIRED of the shortage of books and supplies!
THEY ARE TIRED of having to choose between art, music, and Spanish
instead of letting their children have all they deserve!
THEY ARE TIRED of their children being neglected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania!

If you are tired, too, and agree with the above statements,
then please join the PTCA (Parents, Teachers, and Community Association) of Spring Garden Elementary School at 1146 Melon St. Philadelphia, PA 19123 on November 1st from 11:30am to 3pm, where the parents will canvass the area and knock on doors to remind people to get out and vote on November 4.
RABBI'S FALL EDUCATION SERIES
Walking All the Way Through Life Together: End of Life in a Sacred Community!

Conscious aging involves considering end-of-life decisions which are some of the most important decisions any human being will make in a lifetime. Yet some synagogue communities focus only on able-bodied, prime-of-life relationships, leaving a gap for people grappling with end-of-life decision-making, entering frail old age and facing the end of life. We want to be a community that holds our members all the way through life. We want to be good not only at the rites of mourning but also at the entire passage up to that stage. So, in a strong spiritual context we'll engage with Jewish perspectives on end-of-life issues.

Rabbi Julie Greenberg will be joined by other leading teachers to explore these important issues. Please join us in this holy and inspiring exploration.

Program Details:
Time: Sundays from 11:00am - 1:00pm
Dates & Locations:
Part I Sunday, November 2 at Penn Center House, 1900 JFK Blvd., 2nd floor Leisure Lounge
Part II Sunday, November 16 at William Penn House, 1919 Chestnut St., Community Room
Part III Sunday, November 23 at William Penn House, 1919 Chestnut St., Community Room

Fee for each session: $10 for members $15 for non-members
Brunch is included.

Please register in advance by sending an email to: info@leyvhair.org or leave a voice message at 215-629-1995.
NEW RECONSTUCTIONIST PRESIDENT COMES TO LHI
Meet Rabbi Deborah Waxman

We are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Deborah Waxman, the new RRC and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities President, to Leyv Ha-Ir!  Rabbi Waxman, the first female head of any Jewish movement, will be speaking at our November 21 Kabbalat Shabbat service. Please plan to attend as we extend our warm hospitality to her!

You can read about Deborah here and about her historic inauguration here.
 
INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY GATHERING
Annual Center City West Event

Leyv Ha-Ir is participating in the Annual Center City West Interfaith Thanksgiving Community Gathering.
It will  take place at the First Presbyterian Church at 21st and Walnut Streets.
The date is Tuesday, November 25. The time is 7:00 PM. All are welcome!
SUKKOT
In Sue Frank's Lovely Sukkah

On Sunday October 12th, members of Congregation Leyv Ha-Ir met to celebrate the joy of Sukkot.  We sat in (and around) member Sue Frank's backyard sukkah where we prayed, chanted, shared experiences, and performed the mitzvah of waving the lulav and etrog.  The celebration concluded with delicious refreshments and time for informal conversation.
NOVEMBER MEMBER YAHRZEITS  
May This Soul be Bound in the Book of Eternal Light:  

yahrzeit

 

Sibyl Cohen